What Price Freedom

It should come as no surprise to anyone that the United States is
suffering a recession due to the current pandemic, and that the
economic output has dropped almost 5% in the first three months
of the year.  That is faster than anytime since 2007.  This signals
an end to the longest economic expansion - 126 months - on
record.  And as of today, over 30 million Americans have filed
for unemployment benefits since the beginning of March.

And this is just the beginning, because the first two months of the
years were not affected by the coronavirus, as the virus only began
to surge in March. Only then were the shutdowns beginning to affect
the economic outlook.  The second quarter will most probably show
that economic activity will likely drop at an unprecedented rate.  And
like ripples in a pond, unemployment is spreading out across the
economic sector.

Worse yet, economists project the GDP to drop to an annual rate of
30%, that is more than triple the drop that occurred in 2009.  So far,
Congress has passed more than $3 trillion in emergency relief and is
looking at another $1 trillion more.  This is in addition to the Federal
Reserve's trillions for lending and credit programs.  We are cranking
out money at an unprecedented rate.  But the Stock market is still
holding it's own.  Just more proof of its total disconnect to the
economy in general.

Some states are yielding to pressure from protesters and are beginning
to reopen non-essential businesses, while others are holding firm.  A bit
like having a no peeing section in the pool.  There has been no leveling
off of new cases or deaths from the virus, in fact many states are finding
more cases daily.  However, the Trump administration has said that the
increase in new cases is due to more testing.  Duh?  No, the number
of cases is not increasing with the tests, the tests are finding cases of
the virus that are already there.  It's like counting kittens in the dark,
if you turn on the light, you can see many more kittens, turning on the
light didn't increase the number of kittens in the room, it just allowed
you to count them more easily.

I can understand that people are frustrated, they are out of work and have
bills to pay. That one-time payment of $1200 won't go very far to pay the
mortgage and feed the kids.  What I don't understand is, that they would
risk the health and safety of those children to demand that the government
open up businesses so they can go back to work.  Yes, some governors may
yield to their demands, but believe me the virus will not.  The virus will not
go away because you want it to, because you are tired of staying home, and
you want your children back in school.  The virus will not back down from
your assault rifles or signs demanding it to go away.  It laughs at your chants
and the singing of the National Anthem.  It doesn't care if you say you have
freedom to do anything and go anywhere.   It will strike you down just the
same.

May I ask those of you who are demanding your right to do as you wish, when
you wish to do it?  Who are you fighting, the government or the coronavirus?
Do you think that just because you say you have rights, you should be able
to leave your house whenever you please, that you won't get sick and perhaps
die from an unseen and undetectable enemy?  An enemy that will seek you out
and follow you home to infect everyone you love and hold dear; your parents,
your spouse, your children.

You say your rights trump my fears, but your rights end when they begin to harm
other people, when what you want to do compromises the health and welfare of
the citizens in my state, I say enough!  Take your guns and your signs and go
home.  Hug your parents and your children and tell them that today you gave
up just a little of your freedom so that they could live.

                                                                                        I'm just sayin'

Some Thoughts on the New Normal

Today begins my eighth week of voluntary (?) lock-down, and
I do believe I am relatively sane, thought I would be a poor
judge of that.  I have been observing the required social
distancing guidelines of staying six feet apart from others,
however that does not mean we can't sit on the deck and
share a drink and a laugh.

This weekend I helped a friend with her Spring yard work.
I can't tell you how good it felt to get outside with a rake and
a shovel and do some honest work again, (blisters notwithstanding).
We got about half the yard done and I made her promise to call me
when she is going to finish the work.  It beats the heck out of walking
alone and lonely to get my required amount of daily exercise.

I got a notice in this morning's mail that the community garden is
open, and we may begin working the soil, all-be-it with a list of
caveats to keep everyone safe and prevent spreading the virus to
our fellow gardeners.  Of course, it came right on time to coincide
with two days of heavy rain.  But hopefully by the weekend I will
be able once again to grab a handful of warm earth and squeeze
it through my fingers to test it, and smell the glorious fragrance, and
the promise of a rich harvest to come. Never have I so looked forward
to getting down and dirty as I have this year.

This week I had to break down and go to the grocery store, not my
favorite thing to do in good times, and even less when garbed in face
mask and latex gloves.  The weather was warm enough for me to wear
just my hoodie and a tee.  I had my 'Bloomberg for President' shirt on as
it has long sleeves and it is fairly heavy-weight.  Emblazoned on the front
of the black shirt, in bright silver letters, it says: "New Year - New
President", my sentiments exactly.  Pushing my cart down the aisle,
I was met by a woman who gave me a thumbs up and said, "I like
your shirt".  A man, probably 10-15 feet ahead of us heard her
comment and turned to look.  He began walking back to us muttering
something, and as he was not wearing a mask, I asked him not to come
any closer.  He kept coming, and I asked him again, only louder this
time, not to come any closer.  He looked around and thought better of
it, and said in a very loud voice, "Stupid bitches!". I do think some folks
are not faring too well in this new normal.

I took my usual walk this morning, it takes me past our little park.  On a
beautiful day such as today, it would have been overrun with children of
all ages, on swings and teeter-totters, merry-go-rounds and bouncy rides.  The
air would have been filled with their laughter, what a joyous sound, the sound
of children laughing.  But the park was empty, not a soul, the silence was
deafening.  It is surreal, and I find it more than mildly disconcerting.  I
have a new great-grandson; he was born on January 17th.  I have yet to
see him, his big brother turned two last week, I sent a card and a check.
I didn't want to send something that couldn't be sanitized.  What a strange
world this has become.

What I wouldn't give right now to be able to go to my favorite gin joint
and have a beer and play a little pool or maybe a game or two of darts.
Just to laugh and take a kidding on my really bad aim; at least I never
hit a bystander as someone else did, not mentioning any names.  Funny
how somethings take on such importance when you are denied them.

I really miss my pickleball friends, by now we would be playing outside.
It might be a bit cold in the early morning, but once the sun is full up, it
warms up nicely.  We start our games at 6:45am, all grumbly and grouchy
until play starts and then we forget the early hour, shouting and laughing
our way through two and a half hours without realizing how much we
have exercised .  Then it is time for a stop at the coffee shop for a cuppa
and at least another two hours of gossip.  What a great way to start the day.

Please tell me when this is all over, those days will come again.  Tell me
traumatized children will laugh and play again or will they have lost some
of their innocence?  Tell me my great-grandchildren will still remember
me, when I have lost those precious brief first days when imprinting is
so important?  Will we have lost the hugs between old friends, the
handshakes between colleagues, the high-fives after a great game?
Will we always view each stranger, not as a potential friend, but as a
carrier of some dread disease?  When will we be able to stop sanitizing
everything we touch, stop washing our hands when all we did was sit
alone on the sofa, and when can we scratch our chin when it itches?
When can I ditch the mask and show the world my smile, and I will
smile, from ear to ear.  Some experts say never, I do hope they are wrong.

                                                    I'm just sayin'